"Russian food and energy will save the world"

14 Nov, 2009 19:15 / Updated 14 years ago

William Wilson, an economist from the Vanguard investment firm in London, told RT about Russia’s impact on the global economy.

Russia's resurgence on the world stage depends on modernizing its economy and freeing up trade. That's the main thrust behind two recent speeches by President Dmitry Medvedev, first in his "State of the Nation" address and again today at the Asia-Pacific Summit.

“The world will be facing food shortages, potentially oil and gas shortages, and Russia has a pivotal role there,” Wilson said. “I think the agriculture, the food component, is critically important. Because with the warming of the country and climate change, I expect that Russia will become a major food exporter. Knowledge based, energy and food exporting Russia will play a bigger role in 10 years than it does today.”